Wyoming Drone Laws

Authorizes the Wyoming Aeronautics Commission to promulgate reasonable rules on where unmanned aircraft may take off and land, in coordination with industry and local governments. The commission cannot regulate unmanned aircraft operations in navigable airspace. Makes it unlawful to land an unmanned aircraft on another person's property without consent, except in cases of forced landing.

Prohibits flying a drone so low that it interferes with the existing use of land or water, or so as to be imminently dangerous to persons or property, or in violation of federal air-commerce regulations. Landing on another's land or water without consent is unlawful except for forced landings. A 2025 amendment (SF 132) added criminal penalties for violations.

Makes it an offense to intentionally operate a drone over or near critical infrastructure or critical systems (refineries, chemical plants, water and wastewater treatment facilities, dams, power generation and transmission, communication towers, natural gas facilities, railroads, courts, jails, military installations, hospitals with air-ambulance service, mining infrastructure, and others) to intentionally photograph it, intentionally loiter over or near it, or in furtherance of any other crime. Separate provision prohibits operating a drone carrying an explosive device near such facilities. Carves out authorized FAA operators, government agencies using their own drones, infrastructure owners or agents, emergency and law enforcement agencies, and private landowners over their own land. Authorizes peace officers to take reasonable actions including disabling, damaging, or removing violating drones.

Makes it an offense to operate a drone over or on the grounds of a penal institution to photograph, surveil, record, or convey contraband. Using a drone to deliver a deadly weapon is treated as a more serious felony offense. The statute defines unmanned aircraft system for purposes of drone law generally.

Makes it a criminal trespass to enter private land without permission to collect resource data, which includes photographing and recording locations. Resource data encompasses information about agriculture, minerals, geology, habitat, water, soil, and similar subjects. A 2015 federal court decision (Western Watersheds Project v. Michael) struck down the subsection prohibiting collection from public/adjacent land targeting private land, but the core provisions prohibiting collection on private land remain in effect.

Establishes civil trespass liability for entering private land or water to collect resource data without permission. Mirrors the criminal statute (W.S. 6-3-414) but provides civil damages remedy. Drone photography and data collection over private land without permission can trigger civil liability. Federal court struck down adjacent-land provisions in 2015, but private-land collection prohibitions remain valid.

General Hunting Regulation (Chapter 2, Section 12) prohibits using any aircraft, including drones, to spot, locate, and aid in the taking of any big game animal from August 1 through January 31, and prohibits aircraft use for any trophy game animal during any open season. Section 20 separately prohibits real-time video and transmitting imaging devices used to aid in taking big or trophy game. The Wyoming Game and Fish Department has explicitly stated that 'aircraft' includes drones (any machine capable of atmospheric flight, including a UAV).